Foldable structure



Aug. l1 1925.

F. WINDFUHR FOLDABLE STRUCTURE 28, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed OGC.

Aug, 11, 1925. 1,549645 F. WINDFUHR FOLDABLE STRUCTRE Filed O0. 28, 1924 2 SheetsSheet 2 1 Patented Aug, 11, 1925.

UNITED .STA'1ES PATENT OFFICE.

FREI) WINDFU'HR, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T TEE HEPIE PA1ER BOX COMPANY, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

Application file d October 28, 1924. Serial N0. 746,362.

T0 all w7zom z't mag] concern:

Be it known that I, FRED VINDFUHR, a citizen 0f the United States, residing at Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, hzwe invented certain new und usefu1 Improvements in Foldable Structures, of which the following is a specification.

The present inventionPertains to foldable structures provided with means f0r maintaining the parts of the structure, when desired, in a certain relation t0 each other und t0 the surface upon Which the structure rests.

More particularly, the im*ention is directed t0 the construction of a box 01 the like in which itis desired to display articles of merchandise. However, the invention in its broader aspects is not intended to be rest1icted 130 this application.

Ingeneral, the invention consists in providing means for supporting the body 015 a box, when itis open, atan incline to the su1face upon which it rests, so as to disp'lay the contents thereof, and at the same time, ma'intain the 1id of the box in an upright position at the rear of the box bocly whereby advertising matter.on the inside of the 1id or exre1imerchandise p1aced within the lid 3 may be displayed.

An important object 0f the invention is the construction and arrangernent of the parts of the body and lid-supporting means just referred to, so that when the box is 85 closed the 'support-ing means fold substantially into the planes of ce rtain of the walls of the box. Thus, the box is not rendered bulky nor are the external appearance and the outside dimensions thereof changed materially. In other words itis intended 130 provide boxes or the like with supporta1ng means of the character desciibed wh1ch, when the boxes are closed, will permit them to be packed for shipment or other purposes in practically the same space as would be taken up by ordinary boxes of the sarne s 1ze not provided with body and lid-supportmg means.

A further object is the profision of a u foldble box struct-ure having supporting either in its open 01' closed position. In

fact, it is intended that the supporting means be so incorporated in the box struct-ure 01 cornbined therewith as to render the appearance of the box, at least when closed, to all intents and purposes the same as an ordinary box.

Reference is had Eo the accompanying d-rawings showing seve1al pract-ical embodiment-s of the invention and in Which the same reference numerals indicate like arts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of the invention embodied in a box struct-ure, the lid of the box being open t-o display the contents thereof;

Fig. 2, an end view of the sarne box with the lid closed;

Fig. 3, a transverse section of the b0x as shown in open posit-i0n in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4, a s1milar section of a modified form 0f the invention, the box being open;

Fig. 5, a similar section of the modification 0f Fig.- 4 with the box closed,

Fig. 6, a similar section of a second modification, the b0x being open; and

Fig. 7, a simi1ar section of the modificat-i0n of Fig. 6, the Box being closed. v In the drawings, Figs. 13, there is disclosed an embodiment of the invention in the form of a box made 0f cardboard or any other suitable material. -As shown in these figures the box comprises a rectangular, open-top, body 1 having a bottorh wall 2, a front Wall 3, a rear wall 4 and end Walls 5, 6.

The box lid 7, within which the body member 1 telescopes, is also of rectangular form and comprises a top Wall 8, front Wall 9, rear wall 10, and end walls 11, 12. Lid

7 is hingedly co'nnected along the lower edge of its rear wall 10 to the body 1 along the lower real edg thereof in any suitable manner, as by means 0f a paper hinge strip 13 secured to the parts by aste, 01 otherwise.

The means for supporting the body 1 in a rearwardly and upwardly inclined position when the lid 7 is raisecl und for holding the lid itself in its open or display osition, co1nprises a sheet 0r strip of cardboard 14 of a wiclth substantially equal to the length of the botto1n Wall 2 of tl1e box body and the top Wall 8 0f tl1e box lid, i. e., the distance between the end Walls of t-hese members. Member 14 is scored o1 creased transversely at suitable intervals in its length 130 form hingeclly connected sections 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19. Section 15 of member 14 is substantially co-extensive Wit-h the top Wall 8 0f the lid (o t-l1e outer face of' which it is pastecl so as to bring its hinged connection with section 16 along the upper rear edge 0f the lid.

Section 18 of member 14 is likewise secured, as by pasting, to the exterior surface of tl1e bottom wall 2 of the box body so 21s t0 locate its l1inged connection wich sect ion 19 along the lower rear edge 01 the body 1. lt Will be noted tl1at section 19 of mernber 14 is free to swing about its hin-ged connection with section 18 so that, as shown in Fig. 2, it

may be svcung up fiat against the lower face of section 18 when it is desired t0 close the box o1, as shown in Fig. 8, when the box is opened, it may be swung downwardly until its free, lower edge is located in the apex of the angle f01med by hingedly connected sections 16 and 17 of member 14. Sections 16 and 17, because 01 tl1e connection 0f sections 15 and 18 to the box lid and body, respectively, automatically move t0 the positions shown in Fig'. 3 wl1en the box lid is swung open ab0nt its hinged connection 13 to tl1e box bocly.

\Vhen the parts are positioned as'in Fig. 3, it will be seen that member 14 not only serves as an eflicient truss, having a strut 01 p1op formed by its section 19 and a cl1orcl comprising sections 16 am]. 17 thereof, for maintaining the body and lid in the desired angular relationship t0 each other, but it also acts as an easel for the body of the box. The bocly of the box being thereby supported in an upwardly and rearwardly inclined position 011 the surface upon whicl1 section 17 0f member 14 rests, the contents thereof Will be fully displayed to view. Likewise, a full view of tl1e inte1ior of tl1e box lid will be had so that advertlsing matter 01 even merchandise rnay be clisplayed tl1erein.

Preferably tl1e sections of member 14 are proportioncd ancl are attachecl t0 the parts 01 tl1e box so that, when the box is closed, l efore wl1ich operation, of course, section 19 1s swung flat against section 18, sections 16 und. 17 01' member 14 will lie flat against the bottom and rear Walls of the box, respectively. The bottom wall of the box structure being nmde up of tl1e bottom Wall 2 of bocly 1 and tl1e rear Wall of the box consisting o1. the real Wall 4 of the body anal rear Wall 10 of the lid, when the box is closed,

as in Fig 2, tl1e sections 013 truss 14, including strut section 19, Will lie substantially in the planes of the bottom, top and rear side Walls of the box structure. The closed box therefore does n0t present a bulky appearance, Which is a characteristic fault of most boxes provided with easel 01 similar attachmencs, ancl is not appl'eciably increased in thickness, as Will be observed frorn Fig. 2. In ad dition, boxes constructed in accordance With the present invention do not depart materially from tl1e rectangular cross section, either longitudinally 0r transversely, of Standard boxes, which would be a serious hindrance in packing and storing them.

Reference is 110W had to the modified :f0rm 0f the invention shown in Figs. 4 ancl 5. Here the box bocly 1 and its lid 7 are tl1e saine as tl1ey appear in Figs. 1-3. These arts are also connectecl by the hinge strip 13 as in the first form described. The bodyeasel and lid-supporting member 14 is the same as regards all of its hingedly connecte l sections, except that section 15 is replaced by a somewhat narrower section 15'. Tl1is section 15 is secured t0 the outer surface 01" rear Wall 10 of the box lid With whicl1 it is preferably substantially co-extensive. In this form 01 tl1e invention, il; Will therefore be seen that, since the parts all function in the same manner as described with reference t0 tl1e first form of the invention, when tl1e box is closed, the parts of the truss member 14, including its section 19, Will all lie substantially in the planes of the bottom and rear side Walls of 13l1e box, as shown in Fig. 5. There iS thereby provided a b0x structure which is practically as compact in form as that disclosed in Figs. 13. It is also to be noted that this modification 0f the form of member 14 elfects a saving in material, since section 15' of the member in the modification is consiclerably narrower than the 001'- gasponding section 15 in tl1e first form of the The Second modification of the invention as applied to a b0x structure 0f the type shown in the other figu1es of tl1e drawings is disclosed in Figs. 6 and 7, which Will now be descfibed.

From these fi'gures it will be seen that the member 14 is substantially the same as regards the form and mode of attachment of its sections 15 and 16, as the member 14 appears in tl1e form of the inventlon shown in Figs. 13. Hingedly connected t0 one edge of section 16 is a section 17, t0 the opposite edge 01 whicl1 latter is hingedly connected a section 18. Setio1i 18 is attached, as by pasting, to the undep surface 0f the bottom Wall 2 f the box b0cly, just t0 the rea1 of its forward edge. In this form 0f the invention, the strut f0r bracing tl1e member 14 when the b0x is in open o1 display osition,

takes the form of a separate member having a base portion secured, as by pasting, to the upper face of section 17' of member 14, und a pix*oted section 19 hingedly connected to the base ortion 20 along one edge thereof. It Will thus be seen that, when the lid 7 is 1aised, the truss member 14 will automatical1y assume the position shown in Fig. 6 by \reason of the fact that its sections 15 and 18' this position until section 19 is swung down so as to ermit the truss member 14 to 001- 1 lapse. W hen this takes place, und the box is closed, section 19 of the strut Will fold fiat against the upper surface of its base 20, and the parts be1ng properly proportioned all 0f' the sections of truss member 14 and the parts of the strut Will move into a position so that they1ie substantially in theplanes 0f the top, bottom, and rear side walls of the box structure.

It is intended of course that numerous modifications may be made in the Structures hereinbefore described and illustrated in the drawings. Of course, it is unnecessary for carrying out the purposes of the invention that the relative size of the body-easel and lid-supporting means, as compared with the parts of the box, be the same as shown in the d rawings, but this may be varied in num'erous ways so as to include the features of the invention. The supporting means, although preferably used in the forms shown in the drawings, i. e., of the same Width as the box, may be made much narrower and located centrally of the box or several such device5 1nay be used on the box at suitable intervals for the purpose of supporting the body in t he desired inclined position, andthe lid' in a position so as to disclose the interior thereof. Likewise, the invention is not intended to be restricted to a box of the character shown in the drawing, but may be utilized wherever it is desired to support two elements in a desired relationship to each ofher and the surface up on which the structure rests.

\Vhat I claim ist 1. A foldable structure comprising a pair of elements hingedly connected. t0 each otl1er; a member extending across the line of' connection of'the elements and haying its ends' secured to Said elements, themiddle portion of the member being free; and a strut for propping seid freie middle portion of the member so as to provide a supporting easel for one of said pair of elements and a truss to support the other of said elements at. an angle to the first.

2. A display box comprising a body; a lid hingedly connected thereto; a member extending aeross the connection between and attached t0the botton1 of the body and the lid, said member ha'ving an intermediate free ortion; and means arranged f0r adjustment to prop said free portion-of the member to support the body in an i1xclined osition and the lid at an angle thereto.

3. A display box comprising a body element; a lid therefor having a side Wall hingedly connected a long its-lower edge to one edge of the body element; a combined body-easel and lid-supportiag element crossing the line 0f junction bet-ween said Parts, said easel and support elemei1t being Connected to the bottom 0f the body element and to the 1id and having an intermediate free portion; and a Strut hingedly connected to one of said elements for adjustment to prop said free portion,'the easel and support element and the strut lying substantially in the planes 0f the bottom and a side Wall of the box when the box is closed.

4. A display box comprising a body; a 1id therefor hav.ing a side Wall hinge dly connected along its lower edge to one edge of the body; a foldable, combined body-easel and lid-supporting member extending across the line of junction of the body and the 1id,

said n1ember being attached to the body and the lid and having an interniediate free portion; and a hinged extension formed on one end of said me'mber for adjustmerit to prop said free portion of the member.

5. A displaybox comprising a rectangular body having a bottom Wall and a rear side Wall; a, rectangular lid within Which the body is adapted to telescope, said lid having a top Wall and a rear side Wall hingedly connected along its lower edge to the body ab the junction of the bottom Wall and rear side Wall of the body; a foldable, combined body-easel and lid-supporting member exte'nding actoss the line of junction of the body and the lid, said member being attached to the bottom wa1l of the body for Ward o'f its rear edge and to the lid at the junction of its top Wall and rearside wall and having an intermediate free portion; and foldable means associated with said member t0 prop the free portion thereof, said member and said pr'opping means lying sbstantially in the lanes of the bottom and. rear walls of the box when the 1id is closed.

6. A display box comprising a body having a bottom Wall and a side Wall; a lid having a top wall and a side Wall, said lid being hingedly connected a1ong the lower edge the bottom wa1l of the body forward 0f its lying substantially in the planes of t11e botrear edge and to the exterior Qf the top Wall tom, top and side Walls 0f the box when the of the lid so as to substantially cover the 1id is closed. 10 same und having an int r diat f In testimony whereof I have signed my tion; and foldable means associated With Dame t0 thiS p i nsaid member to prop the free portion thereof, said member and. the propping means F RED WVINDFUHR. 

